GROONG's Calendar of events
(All times local to events)
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What: The Zeytun Gospels "Missing Pages: The Modern Life of a
Medieval Manuscript from Genocide to Justice"
a lecture is given by Prof. Heghnar Zeitlian
When: Feb 24 2019 1pm
Following Church Divine Liturgy which starts at 10:30am
Where: Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley
Western Prelacy's Hall, 6252 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta, CA
Misc: In 2010, the world's wealthiest art institution, the J. Paul
Getty Museum, found itself confronted by a century-old
genocide. The Armenian Church was suing for the return of
eight pages from the Zeytun Gospels, a manuscript illuminated
by the greatest medieval Armenian artist, Toros Roslin.
The Missing Pages is the biography of a manuscript that is at
once art, sacred object, and cultural heritage. Its tale
mirrors the story of its scattered community as Armenians have
struggled to redefine themselves after genocide and in the
absence of a homeland. Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh follows in
the manuscript's footsteps through seven centuries, from
medieval Armenia to the killing fields of 1915 Anatolia, the
refugee camps of Aleppo, Ellis Island, and Soviet Armenia, and
ultimately to a Los Angeles courtroom.
Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh is Professor of Art History at the
University of California, Davis. She is the award-winning
author of The Image of an Ottoman City: Architecture in Aleppo
(2004). Her writing has also appeared in the Huffington Post
and the Los Angeles Times. As a board member of the US
nonprofit Project 2015, she helped organize the historic
Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemorations in Istanbul where
she also delivered a speech in Armenian and Turkish
The event is free to the public.
Online Contact: [email protected]
Tel: 818-244-9639
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What: International conference 'We Will Live After Babylon'
Armenian and Jewish existential experience between expulsion,
exile and annihilation".
When: Feb 24 2019 9am
Ends on Feb 27
Where: Kulturzentrum Pavillon Hannover, Lister Meile 4, 30161
Hannover, Germany
Misc: Not only were Jews and Armenians compelled for centuries to
become stateless and live outside their homelands, but they
shared another destiny: in the twentieth century, collective
destruction threatened them in the shadow of two world
wars. The European Center for Jewish Music (EZJM) and the
German-Armenian Society (DAG) are using this convergence as the
starting point for a collaborative conference that will focus
on Jewish and Armenian historical experiences through
scientific lectures and a cultural program.
The speakers (amongst others Richard Hovannisian, Michael
C. Stone, Harutyun Marutyan, Dan Diner, Emil Sanamyan,mit Kurt)
represent a variety of disciplines such as theology,
literature, musicology, history, sociology, political science
and cultural studies. The themes of the conference - Diaspora,
Minority Issues, Genocide, Memory and Reception, and Relations
between Jews and Armenians Today - reflect the common dimension
of Armenian and Jewish conditions.
An extensive accompanying program consisting of readings, a
theater performance, concerts, workshops and a panel discussion
aims to familiarize a broader public with the subject. The
concluding podium discussion will discuss the very different
politics of remembrance in dealing with the Holocaust and the
genocide against the Armenians in Germany.
Jointly organized by The` European Center for Jewish Music an
the German-Armenian Society
Online Contact: [email protected];
[email protected]
Web:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.deutscharmenischegesellschaft.de_&d=DwIB-g&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=O-sS1fZXhdxm2B3BIuNYRTSSnXNPlBMrXcPM7-p0Of8&s=q46wbqRvdg702SpsBgiVQqBXTWFnfPvTOnapfbHGdWg&e=
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ezjm.hmtm-2Dhannover.de_de_aktuelles_meldungen_zwischen-2Dvertreibung-2Dexil-2Dund-2Dvernichtung_&d=DwIB-g&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=O-sS1fZXhdxm2B3BIuNYRTSSnXNPlBMrXcPM7-p0Of8&s=OlnxpBqlu6CpLyMwYIrrAyhCd3S8QayNbC0dxc1XnJs&e=
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Author: Garo Vardanian
Armenia ‘takes note’ of U.S. reaction to Syria humanitarian mission – Foreign Ministry
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 14 2019
Armenia has taken note of the statement by the U.S. Department of State in connection with the deployment of the Armenian Humanitarian Mission to Syria (AHM), the Foreign ministry spokesperson, Anna Naghdalyan said on Wednesday as she was asked to comment on the issue.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry dispatched an 83-member team of medics, sappers and security personnel to Aleppo, Syria on Friday to carry out humanitarian de-mining and de-mining training of the population, as well as to provide medical assistance in Aleppo exclusively outside the zone of military operations.
“Armenia and the U.S have long worked together to address the current humanitarian catastrophe in Syria with its massive refugee and displacement crises.
“I would like to repeat that throughout the Syrian conflict the plight of civilians, minorities, including the sizable Syrian-Armenian community has consistently been a priority concern for the Armenian people worldwide. The Armenian public opinion strongly reflects deep compassion and concern for the sufferings of civilians and the devastation of the country. We speak about a country which has had an indispensable contribution for the survival of the Armenian nation in the wake of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Consul General has been never stopped operating throughout the crisis. To date Armenia has sheltered around 22,000 Syrian refugees and has dispatched 4 airplanes of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. With the establishment of a relative normalcy and security, Armenia is now keen to continue its contribution to the humanitarian mission, including by providing doctors and humanitarian sappers, to help improve the livelihoods of civilians in the conflict-torn Aleppo. AHM is a purely relief mission guided by the International Humanitarian Law and coordinates its work with the relief agencies and international partners present on the ground.
“We share the concerns of the international community with regard to the plight of the ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East and attach importance to the continued provision of humanitarian support in Syria,” Naghdalyan said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the State Department issued a statement, saying: “We recognize the desire of other nations to respond to the humanitarian situation in Syria, and we share the concerns about protecting religious minorities in the Middle East. However, we do not support any engagement with Syrian military forces, whether that engagement is to provide assistance to civilians or is military in nature.”
Turkish national extradited from Armenia to face trial in the US
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 11 2019
Turkish national extradited from Armenia to face trial in the US
2019-02-11 14:21:03
Kemal (Kevin) Oksuz, who plead guilty for his role in a scheme to conceal the fact that a 2013 Congressional trip to Baku was funded by the Azerbaijan government, will face trial in the US today.
Oksuz was extradited from Armenia where he was detained by authorities, pursuant to a warrant that was issued for his arrest. He accepted the charges against him in December of first year before his judge.
- Armenian Police detain Turkish citizen wanted by US
-
Justice Department issues indictment for 2013 Congressional trip to Azerbaijan
The Ministry of Justice blamed the Orphan in 2013 for violating the laws of some US Congress members on the financing of a trip to Azerbaijan.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, Oksuz lied on disclosure forms filed with the Ethics Committee prior to, and following, a privately sponsored Congressional trip to Azerbaijan.
Oksuz falsely represented and certified on required disclosure forms that the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasions (TCAE), the Houston non-profit for which Oksuz was president, had not accepted funding for the Congressional trip from any outside sources.
Oksuz admitted to, in truth, orchestrating a scheme to funnel money to fund the trip from the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), the wholly state-owned national oil and gas company of Azerbaijan, and then concealed the true source of funding, which violated House travel regulations.
A five-count indictment was returned earlier this year in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and ordered unsealed in September. Oksuz was recently extradited from Armenia where he was detained by authorities, pursuant to a warrant that was issued for his arrest.
Former lawmaker quits Republican Party
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 11 2019
Former deputy National Assembly Speaker Arpine Hovhannisyan is quitting the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), citing plans to continue her activities as an advocate, meantime proceeding with her academic work.
In a Facebook post announcing her decision, the ex-official says she became a licenced attorney last week and will join the community of advocates who ‘don’t hesitate to defend their clients regardless of public moods.'
Hovhannisyan also said she has established a non-governmental organization in an effort to oversee the processes taking place in the country, raise the issues and propose solutions.
The former MP, who also served as Armenia’s justice minister from 2015 to 2017, said she will continue her active engagement in the social and political processes, will conduct ‘in-depth analysis’ of all the decisions taken and, if needed, will voice strong criticism.
“In addition to politics and state service there are other important platforms to serve the state which require genuine devotion and professionalism,” she said.
“Taking this all into account, I have made a decision to cancel my membership to the Republican Party at this phase. I wish good luck to my party colleagues in the upcoming developments,” reads the post.
Georgia Renegotiating Gas Transit Contract With Russian Gazprom
The Jamestown Foundation
Jan 30 2019
(Source: aravot-en.am)
The two-year contract between the government of Georgia and the Russian energy giant Gazprom on natural gas transit from Russia to Armenia expired on December 31, 2018 (Georgia Today, January 21, 2019). And talks are now ongoing about extending or renegotiating this arrangement.
Tbilisi and Moscow had reached the previous deal on gas transit to Armenia back in January 2017, after long and difficult negotiations (see EDM, January 19, 2017). In December 2015, the then–minister of energy, Kakhi Kaladze (now the mayor of the Georgian capital), told this author that Gazprom presented Georgia with a particularly onerous demand: the South Caucasus country had to agree to “monetize” the payments it was receiving from Russia for allowing the transit of gas via its territory. Kaladze considered Moscow’s ultimatum to be particularly difficult and “heavy” for Georgia to accept (Author’s Interview, December 15, 2015).
For almost 25 years, since 1992, Gazprom paid Tbilisi for the shipment of gas to Armenia not with money, but with a portion of this transited energy fuel: Georgia was receiving 10 percent of the Russian gas in lieu of a monetary transit fee. Kaladze noted that the previous contract was much more profitable because under a “monetized” transit fee scheme, Tbilisi would have had no guarantees of still being able to purchase the same volume of Russian gas—that is, the 10 percent of gas shipped to Armenia (Author’s Interview, December 15, 2015). The energy minister promised to “protect Georgian interests” in the negotiations with Gazprom. But ultimately, he was forced to sign the new contract with a monetized transit fee scheme (effective after one year) after Moscow threatened to divert all of its Armenia-bound gas from Georgian pipelines to the Iranian network (see EDM, January 27, 2016; January 19, 2017).
The Georgian government feared that, under the new transit payment regime, it would not be able to procure enough substitute gas from Azerbaijan to satisfy domestic demand. Georgia consumes approximately 2.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. And as a transit fee, the country received 200 million–250 million cubic meters of gas from Russia. The previous contract was also quite “comfortable” since it did not depend on international energy prices.
Nonetheless, during 2017–2018, Azerbaijan was able to find an opportunity to increase the volume of natural gas supplied to Georgia. As a result, Georgia did not buy a single cubic meter of gas from Russia last year. But the costs incurred by Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) forced it to increase prices for Georgian consumers, which Tbilisi refused to pay. The disagreement over the price of gas has not yet led to serious tensions between Azerbaijan and Georgia, but bilateral relations could start to suffer as the growing Georgian economy starts to need ever larger energy inputs (Vestnik Kavkaza, December 20, 2018).
Many Georgian observers argue that, under such a situation, Gazprom could attempt to take advantage and propose a new ultimatum to Georgia—proposing even less favorable terms for future gas transit payments. “Gazprom is the Kremlin’s geopolitical instrument, and if Georgia finds itself in a difficult situation due to a lack of fuel in the spring, Moscow could put forward new, tough conditions,” an expert with the weekly Georgian newspaper Prime Time, Keti Khatiashvili, told this author. According to her, Moscow could try to offer the Georgian side better payment terms and, crucially, the opportunity to buy more Russian gas, in exchange for the consent of the Georgian government to begin direct negotiations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on land transit from Armenia to Russia (Author’s Interview, January 22, 2019). Recently, during his visit to Georgia, the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, discussed precisely the “development of trade” and further transit opportunities (Vestnik Kavkaza, January 17, 2019).
The opposition considers the government’s agreement to “monetize” the gas transit fee in 2017 as a crime against the interests of Georgia. One of the founders of the European Georgia party, parliamentary deputy Sergo Ratiani, noted that the opposition parties are demanding an investigation into why then-minister Kaladze had agreed to the unfavorable Russian conditions on transit fees. “The new contract has caused tremendous damage to Georgia and gave Moscow [new] tools to use against us,” the lawmaker argued (Author’s interview, January 20, 2019).
The opposition is demanding that the authorities not renew the contract with Gazprom and return to negotiations on an in-kind payment for gas transit. But as energy expert Georgi Khukhashvili explained, making such demands now is both unlikely and unrealistic: “The contract on the monetization of transit fees is very disadvantageous for Georgia, but it complies with international norms and international transit payment tariffs.” As he stressed, according to international practice, if the parties do not break the contract, its prolongation occurs automatically. “The government does not have the resources to terminate the contract with Gazprom, so it will be extended for another year,” Khukhashvili predicted (Author’s interview, January 22, 2019).
Economy Minister Georgy Kobulia assured journalists in a recent interview that the Georgian government will try to “improve the contract.” Negotiations with the Russian energy giant will begin soon. But Kobulia did not specify how Tbilisi would react to Moscow’s likely refusal to pay Georgia more for gas transit (Accentnews.ge, January 21, 2019).
Georgia has never considered the radical step of terminating the transit across its territory of Russian gas to friendly Armenia. Whereas, Moscow wields multiple military and economic instruments with which it can influence Tbilisi, such as by exacerbating at will the situation on Georgia’s de facto borders with the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia or by threatening to cut off access to the Russian market. In this lopsided bilateral relationship, the current government in Tbilisi is, thus, unlikely to stand firm against Gazprom.
President of Artsakh receives authorized representative of Armenian Government to ECHR
President of Artsakh receives authorized representative of Armenian Government to ECHR
19:43, 6 February, 2019
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Arrtsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received adviser to the Armenian Prime-Minister, authorized representative of the Government of the Republic of Armenia to the European Court of Human Rights Yeghishe Kirakosyan on February 6.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Artsakh President’s Office, a set of issues relating to the cooperation between Artsakh and Armenia in the international legal platforms was discussed during the meeting.
Verelq: Նախագահը նոր նշանակում է արել ՀՀ գլխավոր շտաբում
- 07.02.2019
- Հայաստան
- arm
- rus
31
ՀՀ նախագահ Արմեն Սարգսյանի հրամանագրով՝ Ալբերտ Բաղդասարյանը նշանակվել է Հայաստանի Հանրապետության զինված ուժերի գլխավոր շտաբի կազմակերպչական-զորահավաքային վարչության պետ: Այս մասին տեղեկանում ենք նախագահի տեղեկատվական կայքից:
«Հիմք ընդունելով վարչապետի առաջարկությունը՝ համաձայն Սահմանադրության 133-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասի, ինչպես նաև «Զինվորական ծառայության և զինծառայողի կարգավիճակի մասին» Հայաստանի Հանրապետության օրենքի 35.1-ին հոդվածի 1-ին մասի և 36-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասի 1-ին կետի.
Ալբերտ Բաղդասարյանին նշանակել Հայաստանի Հանրապետության զինված ուժերի գլխավոր շտաբի կազմակերպչական-զորահավաքային վարչության պետ»,- ասված է հրամանագրում:
President says Armenia has a chance of being part of virtual Silk Road
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 8 2019
YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. In an interview with Austrian magazine Society Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said although Armenia is a small state but it is a global nation. He said as many Armenians live in Russia as there are living in Armenia itself, for example.
“In the 21st century, this is an advantage because the globe is getting smaller and life is getting faster,’ he said. In his words, the biggest companies in the world are not the oil or gas companies but rather IT companies like Apple and Google.
He said Armenia has a chance of being part of a so-called virtual silk road – a trade route of technologies and communications.
‘This Silk Road already exists as the global network of people connected to each other virtually and this is the field where you can expand your influence today. It can become the century of Armenia, if we are using our advantage of being a global and highly educated nation that is very well integrated in many societies. In addition, we are the only country of our region that has strong relations both with the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union,’ he said.
He also said that Armenia has one of the best banking sections in the whole region and also the best IT section.-0-
18:40 08.02.2019
Vahagn Khachatryan: Tax Code would be good if it was written by businessmen (video)
Former Mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan thinks that the amendments to the Tax Code are dictated by a strict, fiscal policy.
The economist believes that the Tax Code would be good if it was compiled by businessmen, not as always, the Finance Ministry and the State Revenue Committee.
Khachatryan also thinks justice and equality are not the same thing.
According to Mr. Khachatryan, although democratic reforms are in the right direction, they are not satisfied with the pace. Of course, Khachatryan also realizes the objective reasons for the slow pace.
Asbarez: ARS Western Regional Executive Meets Armenia’s Consul General to L.A.
ARS Western US Regional Executive with Consul General Armen Baibourtian (center)
GLENDALE—The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA’s Regional Executive Board met with Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Advisor of the Consulate Varazdat Pahlavuni and the Second Secretary Kanakara Hovhannisian on January 28.
The main purpose of Dr. Baibourtian’s visit was to bridge the cooperation between the two institutions. The meeting was also attended by the Vice Chairperson of the ARS Central Executive Board, Dr. Nyree Derderian.
ARS Regional Executive Board Chairperson Silva Poladian welcomed the delegations and briefed them on the programs of the 25 ARS chapters throughout the western region, the four Social Services offices, the ARS Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center, 16 one-day schools and other programs.
ARS Western US Regional Executive chairwoman Silva Poladian presents a memento to Consul General Armen Baibourtian
Next, Dr. Nyree Derderian conveyed information about the ARS and its international activities, which includes health and social services programs focused on education, activities that empower the youth, and the ongoing humanitarian aid for the Syrian-Armenian community that gets implemented in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk, and throughout the Diaspora. She also mentioned ARS activities in the United Nations as a member of the Economic and Social Council.
Consul General Baibourtian explained that he is well aware of the instrumental worldwide activities that the Armenian Relief Society carries out and highly values its role throughout the homeland and the Diaspora. He expressed his readiness to expand close relationships and promised to help with resources to advance the mission of the organization.
At the end of the meeting, the Consul General was given the ARS Vision 2020 Signature Plate, which has been prepared by Armenian-American designer Michael Aram.
The Armenian Relief Society, founded in 1910 in New York City, has chapters in 27 countries around the world. The ARS of Western USA is one of 10 regional bodies that govern the international network of ARS chapters. There are 1,240 members of the Armenian Relief Society in the Western Region.
Our region’s pivotal programs are aimed at offering assistance to individuals and families in need through the areas of educational, social and family services, humanitarian aid, cultural advancement, and more. The ARS of Western USA operates a Social Services Division; a Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center; 16-one day schools and 3 full-time day care preschools. ARS also provides support to kindergartens and youth centers in Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk.